The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Public Health Genetics provides students interdisciplinary training for careers in academic institutions, health care delivery systems, public health departments, government agencies, and the private sector.
Learn more about the PhD in Public Health Genetics Curriculum:
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Sample Schedule
Course listed on this page are based on a two-year, full-time course of study. Only required courses are listed in the sample schedule. For questions about less than full-time study, please contact our admissions team at phgadmit@uw.edu.
Year 1 Autumn (12 credits)
| Course | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
EPI 511 or | Introduction to Epidemiology Epidemiologic Methods I | 4 4 |
BIOST 511 or | Medical Biometry I Applied Biostatistics I | 4 4 |
| PHG 512 | Legal, Ethical, and Social Issues in Public Health Genetics | 3 |
| PHG 580 | Interactive Seminar | 1 |
Year 1 Winter (9 credits)
| Course | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHG 513 | Basic Concepts in Pharmacogenetics and Toxicogenomics | 3 |
| PHG 523 | Genetics and the Law | 3 |
| PHG 580 | Interactive Seminar | 1 |
Year 1 Spring (10 credits)
| Course | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHG 511 | Genetic Epidemiology | 3 |
| PHG 527 | Social Science Research Methods | 3 |
| PHG 580 | Interactive Seminar | 1 |
Year 2 Autumn (12-15 credits)
| Course | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHI 500* | Public Health Practice, Science and Knowledge | 1 |
| PHG 580 | Interactive Seminar | 1 |
*PHI 500 can be taken in any quarter
Year 2 Winter (4-10 credits)
| Course | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GENOME 565 | Advanced Human Genetics | 4 |
| PHG 580 | Interactive Seminar | 1 |
Year 2 Spring (4-10 credits)
| Course | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHG 580 | Interactive Seminar | 1 |
Additional Requirements Not Tied to a Specific Quarter
| Course | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Health and/or Health Systems and Population Health – selected with the approval of student’s academic advisor | 6 | |
| Electives (not listed above) | 20 | |
| PHG 800 - Dissertation Credits | 27 | |
| Preliminary Exam – typically completed at the end of year 2 | ||
| General Exam, aka proposal defense – typically completed in years three or four | ||
| Final Exam, aka dissertation defense – typically complete in years four or five |
Notes
- Courses and timing are subject to change.
- Sample schedule is provided as a guide. Individual students’ schedules will vary.
- PhD students must complete a minimum 90 credits.
- PhD students must complete a minimum of 27 credits of Doctoral Dissertation credits.
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Degree Competencies
Upon satisfactory completion of a PhD in Public Health Genetics, graduates will be able to:
- Meet the generic SPH learning objectives for the MS degree (see Criterion 2.6.a) as detailed in the SPH Competencies for All Degrees section of the SPH website
- Meet the generic SPH learning objectives for the PhD degree (see Criterion 2.6.a) as detailed in the SPH Competencies for All Degrees section of the SPH website;
- Demonstrate advanced knowledge in one of these core knowledge areas through coursework and dissertation project research;
- Demonstrate effective integration of the two core knowledge areas while conducting independent, interdisciplinary research in public health genetics;
- Demonstrate the ability to identify resources needed to stay current with the rapid advances in genomics, public health genetics, and clinical genetics, and their application in public health settings; and
- Communicate effectively about public health genetics to audiences from diverse backgrounds, including writing at a professional level and giving oral presentations.
Display competency in "Genomics in Public Health" (Core Knowledge Area A):
- Apply knowledge of inheritance and genomic advances, including cellular and molecular mechanisms and technical developments, to understanding the etiology of a variety of rare and common, complex diseases and health conditions;
- Apply epidemiological and statistical approaches to the study of risk factors and diseases with a genetic component;
- Identify interactions among genes, environmental factors, and behaviors, and their roles in health and disease; and
- Discuss how genetic principles and genomic technologies apply to diagnosis, screening, and interventions for disease prevention and health promotion programs.
Display competency in "Implications of Genetics for Society" (Core Knowledge Area B):
- Identify the impact of genomics on the public health activities of assessment, policy development and assurance;
- Apply methods to address ethical implications of the use of genetic information and technologies in public health;
- Discuss legal concepts and the role of the law in the development of policies relating to genetics and genomics; and identify legal implications of the application of genetics and genomic technologies in public health;
- Apply knowledge of key social science concepts in analysis of the political, social and cultural forces that influence the research and clinical application of genetics and genomic technology in public health; and
- Analyze the interaction and impact of market forces and public policy on the development and delivery of genetic services.
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Doctoral Dissertation
PhD students complete a research-based dissertation under the direction of a faculty dissertation chair and supervisory committee. A student's dissertation falls broadly within one of the core knowledge areas, and the student is expected to develop additional expertise in that area through electives and dissertation work.
See past student projects
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